September 2023
Christine Farris
The average Minnesotan’s life expectancy is around 80.4 years. Whether we reach that age – or better yet, exceed it – largely depends on our genes. There are also many keys to longevity and better health that are totally within our control.
Did you know that the best predictor of a long life is a conscientious personality? Paying attention to detail and having persistence helps support our goals and their achievement.
People who live a healthy lifestyle are about half as likely to develop depression as those who don’t. This suggests that lifestyle changes could reduce our risk of depression.
Why do people living in Japan live the longest? What about these Blue Zones that are being acclaimed? What helps reduce the risk of illness? These are just some of our topics to be covered.
Future articles, in this year-long series, will help us understand what works – and what doesn’t – in maintaining, and even improving, our health. Although events will happen, which may be unfortunate, part of aging successfully is working to improve what we have and what we can do about it.
Let’s move forward!
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Christine Farris, MS, RN, PHN, is the owner of ElderNest, Inc., which helps seniors stay living at home and transition to future living options when needed. Her company is based in Apple Valley, MN. A former Navy nurse, and critical care clinical specialist, Chris has filled education and leadership roles on both coasts and in Minnesota. She has become a specialist in aging and transition. Chris believes her biggest career, and personal, accomplishment was helping to get smoking banned on commercial airliners in the late 1980s.